Live at the final day of NORML’s 2010 “Just Say Now” convention in Portland, OR: former New Mexico Governor and marijuana legalization advocate Gary Johnson (also: probable 2012 GOP Presidential candidate).

Despite two terms as governor of New Mexico and recent visits to 26 states, most Americans have never heard of Gary Johnson.

The former Republican governor is mulling a run for president, and his libertarian views and small government platform fit the disenchantment many voters feel toward Washington. Among his supporters is Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, who drew a committed following in his 2008 campaign for president and was quoted in the conservative online website The Daily Caller as saying if he didn’t run again in 2012, the best candidate would be Johnson.

Johnson says he knows most people have never heard of him, but he’s hoping to change that.

“There are two courses of action. One would be to do nothing and the other would be to burn some shoe leather and see what happens,” Johnson told The Associated Press during a recent stop in Davenport. “I’m burning some shoe leather.”

Johnson, who served as governor from 1994 to 2002, supports slashing government spending, including big cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. He also calls for simplifying and reducing taxes.

Those stands might please many Republicans, but some would likely bristle at his opposition to the war in Iraq or his support for cutting defense spending, legalizing marijuana, expanding legal immigration and legalizing civil unions for gays and lesbians.

Science aside, there’s also this. One would think legalization would put a pretty good dent in cartel-driven violence. If 19 passes, Whitman goes down in flames, and my current (criminal) congressman gets driven from office, it will give me a much-needed shot of optimism, if for only a short while.

Gary Johnson spoke at a NORML conference while he was still Governor. He didn’t come to support legalization only after leaving office.

In addition he made life safer for opioid addicts in his state while serving – immunized people bringing OD victims to ERs from being investigated, and made opioid antagonists available over the counter so an OD victim can get treatment at home before respiratory function stops altogether.

JOHNSON: It should be left up to the woman. If my daughter were pregnant and she came to me and asked me what she ought to do, I would advise her to have the child. But I would not for a minute pretend that I should make that decision for her or any other woman.

PLAYBOY: But you have supported legislation that requires parental consent and signed a ban on partial birth abortions.

JOHNSON: I think the decision can be made at an earlier stage. That’s why I don’t support partial birth abortions. I realize it’s a fine line, but I generally come down on a woman’s right to decide.

PLAYBOY: Do you disagree that parental consent is problematic for teenagers who can’t talk to their parents?

JOHNSON: I believe that parents ought to know. Where that can’t occur, there needs to be a process in place, which we have in New Mexico.

On unions, I’d bet he’s pretty anti-union, but I don’t know. As for EFCA, it’s dead.

Don’t let her kid ya, the best part of her trip out here was when she got to meet Suzanne and me.
LMAO!
I can truly say Jane is a sweetheart, just a very pretty, nice lady, who happens to have sparkly beautiful blue eyes, kinda like me.She is quick to smile and will interrupt what she is doing to chat for a bit.
Just a sweetie.
Yeah, this is a day late and no one will notice but it was a great pleasure to meet her and Teddy. Both of them are wonderful people.